“The very first thing he said is, ‘I want that train’,” Gonzalez said in a meeting with the Taunton Daily Gazette during a stopover in Taunton.

Taunton officials irate over the Baker administration’s recent decision to switch routes from the previously preferred Stoughton option to the less expensive but more circuitous, less environmentally-friendly Middleboro route – that lacks a stop in downtown Taunton – have a potential ally in Gonzalez.

“The point is to make it easier and faster for people to get to and from Boston,” Gonzalez said.

Patrick had made South Coast Rail a priority – and selected the Stoughton route – because he thought the train would be an economic engine, as well as reducing pollution by taking cars off the road.

But the Middleboro route would mean longer commutes with lower ridership. And because it would be diesel instead of electric, it would be worse for the environment, Gonzalez said.

“It’s also an issue of regional equity. People in other parts of the state already have access to good public transportation.”

As to bringing jobs back to Southeastern Massachusetts, once a dynamic manufacturing hub, Gonzalez said, “There is not one single bullet.”

But he said one of the solutions is to do some of the things “government does well” – such as building the kind of transportation system that links people to jobs and affordable housing.

He also said solar, wind and other sustainable energy technologies are a “huge economic development opportunity” with the potential for providing high-quality jobs.

“Gov. Patrick used to say the world could be our customer when it comes to clean energy. We have the opportunity to be a leader in this,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez, an attorney who served as Patrick’s secretary of administration and finance, more recently served as a health care CEO – something he has in common with Republican incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker, who was also a budget chief, under former Gov. Bill Weld.

The election of Donald Trump as President makes it all the more important what happens on the state and local levels, Gonzalez said.

“Here’s something I think is clear, the best we’ll do is hold the line. We’re moving backwards in so many areas,” Gonzalez said – citing healthcare, immigration, education and the environment as examples.

“The only place we’ll move forward is here, in Massachusetts, in the near term,” he said.

He said the GOP healthcare bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would have devastating effects in Massachusetts if it were to become law.

It would cut $1.5 to $2 billion out of Medicaid in Massachusetts alone, he said. That’s the program that funds health care for many low income people but also foots the bill for nursing home care for many older Americans.

“The first thing I would do is fight this tooth and nail,” Gonzalez said.

“We’ve got a governor right now who’s made half-hearted statements about being disappointed. I’m not saying the governor alone can determine the outcome, but we have to try,” Gonzalez said.

Even without a rollback of coverage and funding, the current healthcare system is broken, Gonzalez said.

It may be surprising coming from a former health care CEO but he thinks a single payer system should be on the table.

“We need to focus on making the system cheaper, simpler and better. It isn’t easy. There are a lot of vested interests. But we can’t keep putting a Band-Aid on a gaping wound,” Gonzalez said.

As to education, Gonzalez said universal access to high quality education especially for very young children is a “game changer.”

“His (Baker’s) whole education agenda is to try to add a few more charter schools for a few more kids. I voted against it. I’m not necessarily against charter schools, but I thought it was a cop out. Even if they are better, it’s only a solution for a few more kids,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said he supports the so-called “millionaire’s tax” as a way to pay for improvements to the education system. The 2018 ballot initiative would place a 4 percent surcharge on incomes over $1 million and would raise an estimated $1.6 billion to $2.2 billion for state coffers.

Gonzalez said his own wife Cyndi was born to a very young single mother. The Head Start program helped get her off to a good start in life and allowed her mom to go to work, making a huge difference in both their lives, he said.

“One of the most important things we do should be to strive with urgency to make sure every child gets a great education,” he said.

He contrasts that with what he calls his successful management of the budget through the Great Recession, achieving the highest bond rating in the state’s history, he said.

Good management is vital, but without vision, it’s empty, he said.

“We need a governor who can see the way the world should be and help take us to that place,” he said.

Gonzalez, who grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, said he’s proud to be the son of an immigrant. His mother, a school teacher, met his father when she was on a trip to Spain as a foreign exchange student in college. They are about to celebrate their 47th wedding anniversary.

His father, who started out laying bricks went on to become an American citizen and a successful small businessman.

“He’s my hero. He’s not only lived the American Dream but proved we can overcome big challenges. That’s one of the things that makes America special and different,” Gonzalez said.